Device for maintaining vacuum in fire hose



Nov. '8, 1927. 1,648,816

F. E. LUMLEY DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING VACUUM IN FIRE HQSE Filed July 8. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jwemlvr firm 6' 1107221 Nov. 8, 1927. 1,648,816

F. E. LUMLEY DEVICE FOR MAINTAINING VACUUM IN FIRE HOSE Filed July 8, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 8, 1927.

ZER'ANKEJLUMII'EY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

.DEVICEEOR-iMAINTAINING Ve'iCUUll'll IN vEll Bil? HOSE.

Application filed July s,

Modern hotels .and other buildings are provided with what is called vacuum systems, which include vacuum creating machines usually located in the basements. Pipes usually from each floor of the building lead 'to the vacuumcreating 'machines, and areadapted to receive hose connecting with the vacuum sweeper for dusting and sweeping floors, etc; Similarly modern buildings are provided with water systems which include water hoses usually located at each floorof a building and connected with water pipes. Said hoses are commonly of great lengths and are usually coiled when not in use. In case of 'firethe valve in the water pipe is opened permitting the flow of water into the hose, but owing to the great length of the hose, comparatively long time is required before the hose is filled with water and can'be used in case of fire. The

presentinvention is designed to "cooperate with the waterhose and'the vacuum system for maintaining atall times a vacuum in the water'hose when'the same is not filled with water preparatoryto its use in case of fire.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means in a device or" the character indicated whereby the creation of vacuum in the water hosemay be automatically discontinned in case the hose is'filled with water preparatory to its being used for fire.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of means for reconditioning the device of the character indicated into its original use, namely that of creating the vacuumin the water hose after ithas been once filled with water and used for fire.

W'ith the above general objects in view and others that will appearas'the nature oi the. invention is better understood,'the same consists in-the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings formingapart of this application, and in which like designating characters refer to corresponding parts throughout-the several views, 7

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the device;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device;

Fig. 3 is-a similar view illustrating anotherposition of some parts of the mechanism;

192s. Seria'l No. 121,232.

Fig. 4 is a side sectional view through the device; and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view through the device on a horizontal plane, and taken on the plane of slot 29.

The invention embodies a casing consisting of front wall 10, rear wall 11, and-two side walls 12 and 18. All of said walls are suitably joinedtogether so thatthey would not come apart. Therear wall 11 isprovided with an upwardly extending ear 14L by means of which the casing ismounted upon ithe wall onpin 15 as seen on .Fig. .4. Fitted over the upper mouth of the casing hereinabove described is a coverplate 16 which at each of its ends is provided with down wardly depending pins v17 for the-purpose hereinafter stated.

City water pipe 18 is fitted to the cover plate 16 and isadapted for alternate communication with the casing as appearsfrom Figs. 2 and 3. To the opposite end of said covenplate 16 pipe 19 leading to the suction machine of the vacuum system in the building is connected. It may happen that'the vacuum in the casing and the vacuum in the pipe 19 on the suction machine side thereof is of unlike density, and therefore to prevent the entrance of air which may be in pipe 19 on the suction machine side thereof to the casing a check valve 20 isprovided in pipe 19. It is therefore apparent that the suction machine is capable or" drawing upon the air .in the casing and creatinga vacuum therein without permitting the return of air which has passed beyond the checkvalve 20.

Positioned below thelower face of cover plate-16 and within the casing is a sliding valve plate 21 which, cooperating withthe outlets of pipes 18 and 19 closes or opens the same, as will be hereinafter described. At one of its ends said sliding valve plate 21 is provided with a horizontal projectlng rod 22 which is adapted for sliding movement within pipe 28 fitted in side wall 12 for the purposes hereinafter stated.

Said sliding valve plate 21 011 its front face is provided with a bore 24 wherein a coil spring 25 isreceived. Plungerrod 26 with .the plunger head 27 rests upon said spring 25. The outer end ofsaid bore 24 is threaded for receiving therein screw 28, said screw being provided with longitudinal central opening for permitting the sliding movement therein of the plunger '26. The

outer movement of said plunger 26 is limited by virtue of the abutment of plunger head 27 at the inner end of screw 28. The front wall 10 at its upper end is provided with an oblong horizontal slot 29 wherein the outer end of plunger 26 is adapted for sliding movement as is apparent from Fig. 1.

Pivoted at its lower end and at the lower portion of the front wall 10 is arm 30, which at its upper end is provided with an axial slot 31 wherein pin 32 is received, said pin end of said rod 36 carries a U-shaped bracket 37 within which roller 38 is positioned and mounted upon axle 39 which by its ends is mounted upon the upper end of said U-shaped bracket 37. Interposed between V the bearing 35 and the bracket 37 is a coil ceived within said bore.

spring 40 positioned upon rod 36, for the purpose of maintaining roller 38 in. close abutment with the sliding valve plate 21 so that the same may remain in close contact with the lower face of cover plate 16 preventing either water to come into the casing or air being drawn therefrom, by pipes 18 and 19, respectively, as the case may be.

Block 41, provided with tapered end walls at the upper portion thereof, is received within the lower ends of front wall 10, rear wall 11, and side walls 12 and 13, and is held therewithin by means of screws 42. Said block is provided with abore 43' running centrally thereof, and pipe section 44 is re- WVater hose 45 is attached to said pipe section as seen on Fig. 1.

It is understood that the casing constructed with the hereinabove description is made air-tight, and it is further understood that the free end of water hose 45 is provided with a nozzle which normally remains closed, so that no air may enter therethrough into the casing when the same remains in evacuated condition. To this end a suitable valve 45 may be interpolated in the hose adjacent the nozzle, or a cork (not shown) may be dis posed inthe nozzle if desired.

Referring to the operation of the device, normally, that is when in the absence of fire, water is not used, the sliding valve plate 21 remains in the position indicated on Fig. 3. In that position the outlet of water pipe 18 is covered by said plate preventing the water to flow into the casing. When the sliding valve plate 21 remains in that position the vacuum is maintained in the casing as well as in the water hose 45 by virtue of the suction action of the vacuum system hereinabove mentioned. When the sliding valve plate 21 remains in the position last mentioned, plunger 26 remains entirely within bore 24, and the outer end of said plunger 26 remains in abutment with the adjacent inner face of front wall 10.

When the necessity for using water in connect-ion with hose 45 arises, that is in case of fire, sliding valve plate 21 is caused to slide toward side wall 13 for the purpose of shutting off the action of the vacuum system upon the device herein disclosed. Many means may be provided for causing said sliding valve plate to shift, and one of the means herein suggested is clearly shown on Figs. 1 and 2, and consists of the already mentioned rod 22 which slides within pipe 23. Normally, that is when the sliding valve plate shuts pipe 18, position illustrated in Fig. 3, the valve 46 remains closed, preventing the atmospheric air to pass into the casing. In case of fire, valve 46 is opened, and the pressure of atmospheric air acting upon the outer end of rod 22 causes the sliding valve plate 21 to shift into opposite direction, reference is being had to the fact that when that occurs there is vacuum in the casing, and hence the pressure of atmospheric air upon the outer end of rod 22 will be sufficient to shift sliding valve plate 21 to the position illustrated on Fig. 2, that is the position said sliding valve plate assumes when it is necessary to permit the flow of water from pipe 18 into the casing andthen into the water hose 45. It is observed that as soon asthe sliding valve plate 21 assumes the position illustrated in Fig. 1 it shuts off the inlet of pipe 19, and thus prevents the maintenance of continued vacuum in the casing and hose 45.

Instantly on sliding valve plate assume ing the position illustrated in, Fig. 2, the water will rush into the casing and hose, these being instantly filled with water by virtue of the fact that the water flowing from pipe 18 meets with no resistance by virtue of the vacuum in the casing and the water hose. It should he stated that the position of valve 46 as shown on Fig. 1 is merely for the purpose of illustration as obviously said valve may be positioned in great distance in respect of the casing. For instance the casing may be positioned on one of the floors of a building, while valve 46 remains on another floor of the building. Thus it will be seen that the shifting of sliding valve plate 21 for the purposes of conditioning the device for fire may be controlled from a great distance. In case the devices as herein disclosed are employed'on each floor of a building, pipes 23 from each device may lead into one point of a building, such for inimam stance as the ofiiceof-the hui'ldingmndi also these pipes may unite into main pipe, only the latterbeing. provided with valve 146. In such caseon opening valve 46-iall of the :sliding valve plates-such as 21,.may::beeontroll ed in the several devices each located onva separate. itloon-of the. building.

After the device has. been employed in; its intended purpose and; itsis desired to :TGCOH d-ition the device ito its dormant -sta to, by means of arm and handle 33 sliding valve plate :21; is: brought-tea neutral; position indicated-bydotted.'lines=;on..-Fi-gs. 1 and 2. Vl hen .in .that latter ;;p.osition the sliding valve plate 21- closes bothEthe-outlctof pipe 18. andthe inlet .ofypipe19, thus preventing the water. to enter, the casing from} pipe ls-as well as preventing vacuum being created due to. the .action. 0 fthe isuction machine: through pipe 19. When in that neutral position an opportunity will heLhadto drain the casing and hose 45 preparatory to bringing the sliding valve plate 21 to its original position illustrated in Fig. 3. When the casing and water hose 45 have been drained, by an instrument such as nail or pin, plunger 26 is pressed within bore 24 until it clears front wall 10 and is entirely shoved from within slot 29. When this is done, by actuating handle 33 and arm 30 the sliding valve plate 21 will be brought to the position illustrated on Fig. 3. Before this is done, however, valve 46 should be closed as is obvious.

It is observed that the end of rod 22 at all time remains within pipe 23 and thus prevents the flow of water into that pipe, as is apparent from Fig. 2.

Note is made of the fact that when the sliding valve plate remains in either neutral position illustrated by dotted lines on Fig. 2 or in the position shown by full lines on Fig. 2, plunger 26 will remain within slot 29, and when said sliding valve plate re mains in neutral position said plunger 26 will bear against the front wall 10 at theend of said slot 29. This arrangement provides means for limiting the movement of sliding valve plate 21 when under actuation by handle 33 to bring said plate to a neutral position.

Pins 17 limit further sliding movement of sliding valve plate 21 in either direction as is obvious.

As is apparent from Fig. 5 on having shifted sliding valve plate 21 for closing pipe 19 the outer end ofplunger 26 instantly springs into slot 29 by virtue of the pressure exerted by coil spring 25 upon plunger head 27.

While there is described herein a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it is nevertheless to be understood that minor changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

that iIPllall l'l as new. is:

1. Y-Thevcombination with a constant vac- 111 um system a =-water supply system, r and a fire 1' hose in communication with said-systems, means .-'for selectively :elosi-ng and opening rcommunication between said F'fire hosewiand either'ofsai'dsystems thereby to discharge water throughsaid hose or create a vacuum therein, andesaid hosei being: norinallyvclosed: tothe atmosphere when incommunication-witlr the vacuum system.

T2. 'Tl18COITlblI1&tlOD with a constant'vacrunn -system, a water supply system, and a fire hosezin communication with said systems, l a valve device 1' for: selectively closing and opening communication between the'fire hose and :either of-said-isystemsthereby to discharge-water through; said hose or create a vacuum therein, pressure 1 actuated :means torvoperating said valve to close communication? between the fire: hose and the vacuum svstem and open communication between the fire hose and the water system, and said hose being normally closed to the atmosphere when in communication with the vacuum system.

3. The combination with a constant vacuum system, a water supply system, and a fire hose in communication With said systems, a twoway valve device for selectively closing and opening communication between the fire hose and either of said systems, and

said hose being normally closed to the atmosv phere when in communication with the vacuum system.

4. The combination with a constant vacuum system, a water supply system, a fire hose, and a common compartment with which each of said systems and the hose communicate and through which the hose communicates with each of said systems, means in said compartment for selectively closing communication therewith of the vacuum system and Water supply system, and said hose being normally closed to the atmosphere when said vacuum system is open to the compartment thereby to create a constant vacuum in the hose.

5. The combination with a vacuum system,

a water supply system, a fire hose, and a common compartment with which each of said systems and the hose communicate, and through which the hose communicates with said systems, a' valve in said compartment for selectively closing communication therewith of the vacuum system and the water supply system, manually controlled pressure actuated means for moving said valve to close the vacuum system and open the water system to the compartment, and said hose being normally closed to the atmosphere when said vacumm system is open to the compartment thereby to create a constant vacuum in the hose.

6. The combination with a vacuum system,

tion therewith of the vacuum system and the water supply system, valve means for induclng atmospheric pressure upon said control valve to move the same to close said vacuum system to the compartment and open said water supply system, and said hose being normally closed to the atmosphere when said vacuum system is open to the compartment thereby to create a constant vacuum in the hose.

7. The combination with a vacuum system, a water supply system, and a fire hose in selective communication with said systems means for normally closing said fire hose to the atmosphere when in communication with the vacuum system thereby to maintain a constant vacuum in the hose, said meansbeing actuated to an open position at substantially the instant of opening communication between the fire hose and the water system. i

8. The combination with a vacuum system, a Water supply system, and a fire hose, a common instrumentality closed to the atmos phere through which said. systems may be placed in communication with the fire hose selectively, valve means for normally closing said fire hose to the atmosphere when in communication with the vacuum system, and said valve means being actuated to an open position at substantially the instant of. opening communication between the fire hose and water system.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature,

FRANK E. LUMLEY. 

